July 28th 2024.
During a recent announcement, the Law Minister of Odisha, Prithviraj Harichandan, revealed that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has plans to begin the repair work of the Ratna Bhandar in Puri's Jagannath Temple. According to Harichandan, the ASI will first focus on repairing the outer chamber of the treasury, followed by the inner chamber.
He also mentioned that a small change has been made in the standard operating procedure for the repair work, and the final date for the project will be decided soon. Harichandan assured that the repair work will not interfere with the rituals and worship of Lord Jagannath and his accompanying deities. In addition, the state government is considering the option of using laser scanning technology to detect any hidden compartments within the inner chamber.
On the topic of the duplicate keys to the Ratna Bhandar, the Law Minister criticized the previous government for creating unnecessary drama to avoid opening the treasury. He stated that an investigation will be conducted, and those responsible for playing with the sentiments of the Odia people and the traditions of Lord Jagannath will be held accountable.
Keeping their election promise, the BJP-led government has taken the initiative to compile a list of the precious ornaments and valuables stored inside the Ratna Bhandar and also repair its structure. For this purpose, a panel was formed, which opened the outer and inner chambers of the treasury on July 14 and 18, respectively. The valuables were then transferred to temporary strong rooms.
Once the repair work is completed, the valuables will be returned to their original places. The entire inventory process will be closely monitored by a committee led by former Orissa High Court judge, Justice Biswanath Rath. This step is being taken to ensure the safety and preservation of the treasures inside the Ratna Bhandar.
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